Motor vehicle steering gear



' M. J. SCANLON MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING GEAR June 6, 1944.

2 Sheets-Shet l IN VEN TOR.

R ATTORNEYS June 6, 1944. M J SCANLON 2,350,478

MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING GEAR l Filed May 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fief/Scania Ils/VENTOR.A l

ATTORNEYS Patented .lune 6, 1944 UNITED STATES iiiTENTL lFF'HCE;

vassaut -I l f -l Moron vnnioiln srnnnrna einen Michael Joseph Scanlon, Baitimore, Md.

Application May 19, 1943, Serial No.vi87,-623

(ci. 28e-e7) 5 Claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicle steering gear construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a steering gear which -will 'be exceptionally rigid, and one wherein the ysteering column and steering wheel, will be free of vibrations and twisting, usually caused by the vehicle passing over rough and irregular road surfaces, thereby reducing wear on the bearings of the steering gear to the minimum, and at the same time rendering the steering of the vehicle, exceptionally easy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle steering gear which will stabilize the load, reducing side-sway, caused when the vehicle rounds a curve, or negotiates a sharp, quick turn.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the front steering gear frame of a motor vehicle, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevational View thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 desigantes the rigid cross-member of the steering gear frame. This cross-member E is substantially U-shaped, and has laterally extended end portions 6 formed with openings for the reception of the vertical shafts 'I that are connected to the wheel forks 8 in supporting the wheels in upright positions.

These forks 8 are formed with laterally extended end portions 9 that form seats for the lower leaves of the elliptical springs I3, which are shown as bolted thereto, by means of the bolts ll.

These springs I0 have the upper leaves thereof bolted to the end members I2 of the steering gear frame.

The end members I2 have their ends formed with recesses to receive the brackets I3 that are bolted Within the channel bars I4, forming the cross-members of the frame, the end members l2 being connected with the brackets I3, by means of the pivot pins I5. As clearly shown by the drawings, the forks V8 .extend through .elongated openings in the end members I2,` andare so iitted within Vthe openings, that the forks together with the wheels I6, which are mounted on spindles secured to the'forks, may move vertically with respect to the steering gear frame, to the end that road shocks directed to the steering gear, will be taken up through the elliptical springs, eliminating vibrations at the steering column, usually caused by sudden road shocks.

The reference character l1 designates brace members which also `have recesses formed in their ends to accommodate brackets I8 that are secured within the channel bars or cross-members l l, there being provided pivot pins I9 for connecting the brace members to the brackets. These brace members I'I are also pivotally connected to the rigid cross-member 5, by means o-f the pivot pin 20. v

It might be further stated that the front and rear ends of the elliptical springs lil, are connected by the'rods 2l, which hold the springs Ill at opposite sides of the wheel forks, in proper spaced relation with respect to each other at all times, eliminating twisting of one spring with respect to the other, under unusual strain directed to the steering gear. Y

The steering post, which is indicated by the reference character 22, extends through an opening in the rigid cross-member 5, at a point directly over one of the brace members Vl, and is provided with a reduced portion 23, that is rigidly secured to the brace bar IT directly thereunder, a key 24 being provided for preventing relative movement between the two members. A steering handle such as indicated at 25 is secured to one end of the steering post 22, so that by rotating the handle, the steering post may be rotated to swing the steering gear frame to the right or left, according to the direction of rotation of the steering handle.

It will of course be understood that in the construction of a motor vehicle, the construction of the rigid cross-member may be changed to meet various requirements. without altering the principles of operation of the invention.

When the steering post is moved to the right or left, it is obvious that the cross-members lli are displaced laterally in opposite directions and the end members l2 and brace members I'l oscillate on heir pivots to the right or left, moving the wheels It, to accomplish the steering of the vehicle. Y

Due to this construction, it will be seen that the steering post or steering gear mechanism will tending through the elongated openings, springs Y mounted Lbetween the forks and end members, and adapted to regulate the vertical movement of said wheel forks, brace bars pivotally connected Y with the front and rear members, and means for moving the brace bars to accomplish the steering of the vehicle Wheels.

2. Motor vehicle steering gear, comprising a.

front .frame embodying parallel front and rear members, end'members, said endmembers being pivotally connected with the front and rear members, said end membershaving elongated openings, wheel forks mounted withinithe elongated openings, saidiwheel. forks having right-angled ends, wheelsmounted within said forks, elliptical springs mounted between the rightangled ends rof the forks and the end members, a rigid crossmember secured tothe frame, the ends'of the cross-member extending laterally over theforks, and havingopenings, vertical shafts on the forks,

said shafts being disposed in the openings, and rmeans for moving the members of the frame.

3, Motor vehicle steering gear, comprising par- .allel front and rear members, end members pivotally connected between the front and rear members, said end members having elongated openings, brace bars pivotally connected with the front vand rear bars and being disposed adjacent to the Aend members, wheel forks mounted within the elongated openings,y elliptical springs connected with the forks and end members and adapted to cushion vertical movement of the forks, a rigid cross-member pivotally connected with said brace bars and having openings, and Vertical shafts rise Ving from the forks and being disposed within the openings of the cross-members.

4. Motor vehicle steering gear comprising parallel front and rear members, end members pivotally connected with the front and rear members at the ends thereof, said end members having elongated openings, wheel forks extending through the elongated openings, wheels mounted on the forks, shafts rising vertically from the forks, a rigid cross-member secured to the frame and to which a motor vehicle frame is secured, said cross-member having openings in which the vertical shafts are mounted, elliptical spring members mounted at opposite sides of the forks and being connected with the forks and frame, rods connecting the ends of the springs of each fork, said members of the frame adapted to pivot with respect to each other.

5. Motor vehicle steering gear, comprising parallel front and rear members, end members pivotally connected between the front and rear members, said end members having elongated openforks and being connected with said end members yieldingly mounting the forks, and means for vmoving the bars of the frame with respect to each other, to accomplish the steering of the vehicle.

` MICHAEL JOSEPH SCANLON. 

